Rooftop Fall Protection for Great River Energy

Great River Energy’s biomass energy recovery plant in Elk River, Minnesota, was in need of a passive fall restraint system. The facility has multiple small, open-sided roof areas, at varying heights, with roof-mounted equipment that needs frequent maintenance and servicing. The existing roof parapets are too low to meet approved safety codes for fall protection.

Dakota Safety designed a guardrail system that fully surrounds the plant’s open roof areas. The railing system provided the flexibility to fit into the tight spaces and sometimes irregular angles of the roof layout. Certain section of the roof guardrails required special, adjustable mid-railings to fit around existing conveyors and other equipment.

We supplied a safety railing system supported by weighted base plates that required no special tools for installation and that does not penetrate the roof of the building. Installation was easy enough for the maintenance crew at the facility to install the entire system themselves, without the need for an outside contractor. Additionally, the rail system was custom painted to match the building’s roof trim for an unobtrusive look.

With Dakota Safety’s rooftop guardrail system installed, every accessible area of the Great River Energy plant’s roof is a fall-safe zone. A passive fall safety system eliminates the need for safety tether tie-off installation and yearly personnel training, and meets OSHA safety requirements.